Loose leaf paper binding machine

ABSTRACT

A binding machine is provided for positioning an elongated plastic spine type binder embracingly about one edge of a looseleaf paper stack. Such machine in the two basic embodiments disclosed includes a holder rigidly for positioning the paper stack with the binding edge thereof in precise axial alignment with the binder feed path and a spreading mechanism for separating the legs of the binder as it initially passes about the binding edge, whereby the binder may axially be drawn past the spreading mechanism to separate the legs for initial entry of the paper therebetween and then along such edge until the binder is located about and contracted against such edge substantially coincidentally with the longitudinal extent thereof.

United States Patent McNichol Sept. 25, 1973 [54] LOOSE LEAF PAPER BINDING MACHINE Primary Examiner-Lawrence Charles [76] Inventor: David H, McNichol, 1325 s. Belvoir Mama-Charles Blvd., South Euclid, Ohio 44121 57 STRACT [22] Filed: Nov. 18, 1971 A binding machine is provided for positioning an elonl l PP 199,939 gated plastic spine type binder embracingly about one edge of a loose-leaf paper stack. Such machine in the [52] US. Cl 11/ l R two basic embodiments disclosed includes a holder [51] Int. Cl. B42c 19/00 B42f l/O2 idly psitihihg the Paper Stack with the binding [58] Field of Search ll /l R 1 AC edge themfh Precise axial alignment with hinder feed path and a spreading mechanism for separating [56] References Cited thelegs of the binder as it initially passes about the binding edge, whereby the binder may axially be drawn UNITED STATES PATENTS past the spreading mechanism to separate the legs for 2,729,835 l/ 1956 Spinner ll/l R initial entry of the paper therebetween and then along 2'234o45 4 11 R such edge until the binder is located about and contracted against such edge substantially coincidentally with the longitudinal extent thereof.

35 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures PATENTEI) SEPZ 5 I973 SHEU 1 OF 4 III.

II I ll I IIIIIIIV mm m mm mm wn ms 6 PMENTED SEPZS I973 sumanm PFENFEU ZWW saw u or 4 It I i izzol 6 zo 25o BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates as indicated to a machine for binding loose-leaf paper stacks and, more particularly,

to a machine for applying elongate plastic binders to a loose-leaf paper stack for gripping the same in assembled relationship.

A number of different methods have been devised over the years to bind loose-leafstacks of papers together. One common method is stapling and a variety of machines have been devised for applying the staples tothe stack. Reference maybe had to U. S. Pat. Nos. 2,897,504 and 1,259,690 for'examples of such machines.

Recently, a relatively rigid but slightly resilient molded or extruded plastic spine type binder has been developed for loose-leaf paper binding. Such binders are elongated one-piece generally U-shape members having two opposed legs and an interconnecting base web, the legs being adapted .for slight expansion whereby such binder may be positioned about one edge of the paper stack. The legs contract due to the inherent tendency of plastic to return to its original shape thereby embracingly to grip the paper edgesubstantially coincidentally with the longitudinal extent thereof. This type of binder is advantageous'from at least several standpoints; first, the entire edge is gripped to provide a firm union while eliminating fray ing along such edge; and, second, the binder may be handapplied. However, if a relatively large number of binders are to beapplied, such hand application is slower than otherlmethods of binding and itbecomes expensive due to the labor cost increment.

. stacks. Such machine is readily adaptable to "com- .pletely automatic gripping and positioning of the paper stack andbinder both prior to and during the binding operation and thus does not require extensive visual or manual supervision while being considerably faster than hand application. I v

It is another important object of the present invention to provide a machine having a carriage reciprocally movable between binder andpaper hoppers, such carriage being commonly mounted on a frame with such hoppers to insure proper binding through stabilized vertical, lateral, and horizontal alignment. Such common mountingenables the machine continually to be used over extended time periods with dependable operation and results.

It is still another important object of the present invention to control, by carriage position, binder and paper feed and bound stack release. The control of all input and output by the position of a single mechanical element results in uniform substantially trouble free operation.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a machine having a surface on whichthe paper stack is accurately positioned by adjustment means displacement during the binding operation. The spreading mechanism is operative both to expandthe legs of the binder for entry of the paper therebetween and to compress the edges of the paper adjacent the binder entry point.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawings setting forth in detailcertain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the'drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of the first embodiment of the loose-leaf binding machine of the present invennon;

FIG. 2 is a horizontal cross section taken substantially along line 2-2 of FIG. 1 showing in phantom lines the operative position for both paper and binder stop mechanisms;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged and fragmentary plan view of the leading portion of the movable carriage of the first embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a vertical fragmentary section taken substantially along line 4--4 of FIG. 3 showing the paper biasing leaf springs on the carriage and relief ports therefor;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged and fragmentary elevation taken substantially along line 5-5 of FIG. 1 showing the back end of the carriage mechanism;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged vertical section taken substantially along line 6-6 of FIG. 1 showing in detail the precisely to align the binding edge with the axial feed path to the binder. Such machine is additionally provided with a flexible handle and interconnected flexible spreading mechanism, the latter likewise being aligned carriage handle, the frame mounting of the carriage, and the plastic binder stop in withdrawn position;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view showing one of the paperstop members and actuating mechanism therefor as viewed outwardly from the interior of the binding machine frame of the first embodiment;

FIG. 8-is a'fragmentary perspective view showingthe operative relationship of the carriage with both the paper hopper side plates and the paper stop actuating mechanism;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary exploded vertical section taken substantially along line 9 -9 of FIG. 1 showing the top portion of the binder hopper;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary exploded vertical section taken substantially along line 10- 10 of FIG. 1 showing the top portion of the paper hopper;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing the loose-leaf paper as bound by the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary plan of the binding machine illustrated in FIG. 12; and

FIG. 14 is a vertical and fragmentary section taken along line 14-44 of FIG. 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIRST EMBODIMENT Referring now in more detail to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1 and 2 wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts, the first embodiment of the looseleaf binding machine according to the present invention includes a frame member having downwardly extending support stanchions 11 connected at both ends thereof by suitable fastening means 12. Stanchions 11 at convenient points may be permanently affixed either to a handling device for bound papers, such as an addresser, conveyor, stacker, boxer, or envelopestuffing machine, or to a desk top or like planar surface. By positively affixing the frame in the manner described, the binding machine may be more easily hand actuated, although it will be appreciated that the machine may likewise be portable for operator convenience.

As shown most clearly in FIGS. 2 and 6, frame 10 includes two upstanding and laterally spaced sides 13 and 13A having horizontally oriented guide channels 14 therein which extend substantially the entire length of such sides. Channels 14 act as guide tracks or ways for longitudinally spaced pairs of rollers 15 received therein, such rollers having stub axles journalled in base 16 of movable carriage 17.

Carriage 17 includes a binder-carrying element 18 super-imposed upon and connected to base 16. Element 18 is formed with a generally channel-shape groove 19 extending longitudinally from the back of the carriage to recess 20 at the front thereof, the sides of such groove being intermediately stepped as shown at 21 to form opposed shoulders 21A thereabove. A longitudinally extending and vertically upstanding divider 22 is positioned along the bottom of groove 19 intermediate the sides thereof. Divider 22 separates the bottom of groove 19 into the two spine binder receiving compartments or holders 23 having open top ends as illustrated. The distal or back end of divider 22 has an overlapping clip 25 secured thereto, such clip forming an internal pushing shoulder 26 as best shown in FIG. 2.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, carriage 17 is provided with two different paper-biasing means. The first biasing means is located ahead of binder receiving compartments 23. It comprises two sets 30 of opposed leaf spring members, each of such spring members having a forwardly extending attachment tab 31 and a rearwardly positioned rebent biasing loop 32. The two inner members of the spring pairs are commonly fastened at 33 to a reduced forward extension 35 of divider 22, and the outer springs of each pair are secured as at 36 to side walls 37 formed by recess 20 in binder carrying element 18.

The opposed inner surfaces of rebent biasing loops 32 are adapted to urge the sides of the paper stack adjacent the binding edge inwardly and to retain the paper in this compressed state to facilitate the initial entry of the binders leading edge upon and about the papers. The configuration of the loops allows the carriage to reciprocate along the stack without locking or binding in either direction. It will be appreciated that the loops flatten out during contact with the paper, the distortion of loop configuration being taken up by relief ports, indicated generally at 38. The loops 32 must be as close as possible to the divider and hence to the leading edge of the binder to permit the loops to compress the papers right up to point of entry into the binder. This positioning of the loops thus eliminates tearing, spreading and fraying of the paper that would otherwise occur during entry into the binder.

The second paper biasing means comprises two camming arms 40 which are secured to the top surfaces of element 18 by fastening means 41. Each of the arms 40 includes a leading longitudinally extending portion 42, an intermediate outwardly tapered cam portion 43, and a rearwardly extending longitudinal securing portion 44. The functional operation of the camming arms 40 will be described in more detail hereinbelow.

Referring now to FIGS. l-2 and 5-6, the carriage is provided with a handle assembly for shifting carriage 17 manually. Handle assembly includes a pushing block 51 subjacently mounted to base 16 of the carriage, such block having an outwardly extending handle shaft 52 threadably received therein. The handle shaft 52 extends through elongated slot 53 in side 13A of frame 10. The external end of handle shaft 52 is provided with an enlarged hand grip 54 for the machine operator. It will be appreciated, however, that shaft 52 or block 51 could externally be linked to any type of reciprocal actuator for automatic operation of the machine.

The carriage position at the left end of frame 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 vertically aligns such carriage with the spine binder retainer or hopper indicated generally at 60. I-Iopper 60 is supported above frame 10 by two end posts 61 having bifurcated lower portions that form two opposed legs 62 and an interconnecting bridge 63 which spans frame 10 and carriage 17. The lower ends of legs 62 for the inside post are perpendicularly bent to form horizontal flanges 65 through which suitable fastening means may be passed into sides 13 and 13A of frame 10. External and longitudinally extending side panels 68 are rigidly secured at their ends to posts 61, the area between panels 68 being divided by intermediate partition 69 likewise supported by post 61. Side panels 68, end posts 61, and partition 69 define a hopper open at both top and bottom having two vertical binder feed slots 70. It will be appreciated, however, that the feed slots 70 may be adjusted in width or length to accommodate various sizes of plastic binders by the substitution of suitable adjustment means (not shown) for the rigid attachment means illustrated for side plates 68.

As best shown in FIG. 9, the upper ends of side panels 68 are symmetrically outwardly flared at 71 to assist in the insertion of plastic binders 72, such binders having opposed inwardly tapered legs 73 and interconnecting base web 73A. The lower ends of side panels 68 are formed with reduced downwardly extending tongues 74 that are received in the stepped portion 21 of groove 19 against shoulders 21A whereby the interior surfaces thereof are flush with the outer sides of compartments 23. Partition 69 is directly above and equal in width to divider 22. Therefore, vertical feed slots are in direct vertical alignment with binder carrying compartments or holders 23 when the carriage is in the reception position illustrated in FIG. 1. The vertical alignment is maintained by the carriage being dimensionally stabilized within guide tracks or ways 14 on frame 10 and by the hopper 60 likewise being supported by such frame. It will be appreciated that compartments 23 may be adapted to receive binders of various lengths or widths by the insertion of shims or the like therein.

Binders 72 are vertically stacked within feed slots 70, with the bottom binder in each stack being positioned within parallel compartments 23. Each binder is substantially equal in height to divider 22 whereby only best shown in FIG. 2, such secondary support and feed apparatus includes two longitudinally spaced apart stop members 75 pivotally connected to the top of side 13A by pivot pins 76. Stop members 75 include inwardly projecting fingers 77 and perpendicularly projecting spring tabs 78. Springs 79 are stretched between and connected at their opposite ends to ears 78 and suitable fixed fulcrums, such as'aperture 80 in the end of inwardly extending shoulder'8l and aperture 82 in support leg 62. Springs 79act to bias stop members 75 in a counterclockwise direction about pivot pins 76 as viewed in FIG. 2. Therefore, when the carriage is moved toward the right as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2, the left stop member 75 will initially be urged under feed slots 70 by spring 79 as shown in phantom lines, thereby to support in conjunction with thecarriage the remaining binders in the feed slots 70. When such carriage is moved past the second stop 75, it likewise will pivot in acounter-clockwise direction to position finger 77 under the two vertical feed slots 70.

The positioning of the two fingers 77 under the feed slots enables the stacked binders to be maintained in their vertical position until the carriage 17 returns at the completion of the cycle. Such return results in the back portion of the carriage carnming such stops in a clockwise direction to an inoperative position against the carriage side, thereby allowing the bottom binder to drop into compartments 23. Stop members 75 remain in the inoperative position against the outer wall of binder carrying element 18, as shown in FIG. 6, until the reciprocal carriage cycle is again begun.

Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2, 7, 8, and 10, the paper holderindicated generally at 85.is supported above frame by end posts 86 substantially identical in configuration to end posts 61, that is with a bifurcated bottom portion formingsupport legs 87 and bridge 88. Such bridge spans frame 10 and provides clearance for reciprocal carriage 17. Paper holder 85 includes side plates 90 pivotally connected to end posts 86 adjacent their tops by pins 9l.Partition 92 is secured to end posts 86 intermediate side plates 90 by a suitable fastening means 93, such partition and side plates cooperatively forming two vertical paper slots 95 open at both top and bottom.

Referring now in more detail to hinged side plates 90 as illustrated in FIG. 10, the upper portions of such plates are symmetrically flared or tapered outwardly'as shown at 97. This outward taper cooperates with the slight inward taper 98 on both sides of central partition 92 to define paper inserting surfaces properly for positioning the lateral surfaces of the loose-leaf paper stacks in both storage slots 95. Varying thicknesses of paper stacks can be handled in storage slots 95 by providing means (not shown) for relocating pivot pins 91 on posts 61', thereby to vary the distance between side plates 90 anddivider partition 92.

As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 8, the lower left external surfaces of side plates 90 have L-shape brackets 100 connected thereto, such brackets including outwardly extending retaining flanges 101. The arms 40 of carriage 17 in the FIG. 1 binder reception position extend at their terminal ends slightly past the back edge of side panels as illustrated in FIG. 8. In such position, the retaining flange 101 rests against the outer surface of longitudinal portion 42, thereby to spread the side panels 90 so that the bottom throats of slots are wider than the entry throats thereof.

Since the paper holder 85 and slots 95 therein are open at the bottom, it is necessary to provide lower stops properly to position the paper stacks relative to the frame until the plastic, U-shape binders may be drawn axially therealong to position the binders about one edge thereof. The stops and actuating mechanism therefor are indicated generally at 105 in FIGS. I-2 and 78.

Mechanism 105 includes upstanding lever 106 pivotally mounted to side 13 by pin 107. Two opposed springs 108 are stretched between lever 106 and end posts 61 and 86 normally to maintain lever 106 in the vertical centered position illustrated in FIG. 7. Forwardly extending bottom projection 109 of lever 106 is joined to pivotal motion translation link 110, which link at its opposite end is pivotally connected to elongated actuating link 112. Two spaced apart elongated slots 113 in link 112 receive restraining screws 114 therein, such screws having enlarged heads bearing against the inside surface of link 112 to assure dimensionally stabilized rectilinear movement for such link. The lever 106 is forwardly pivoted by outwardly extending actuating pin 116 on the carriage during advancement thereof, as will be described in more detail hereinafter.

The top surface of actuating link 112 is formed with two longitudinally spaced grooves 117 having a beveled front side 118 and a substantially vertical back side 119. Grooves 117 have a downwardly extending L- shape flange 121 seated centrally therewithin, such seats normally being maintained by perpendicularly bent leaf spring 122 connected at one end to side 13 of frame 10, and at the other endto the horizontal leg 123 of such flange. Leaf spring 122 supports such horizontal leg slightly above the top of side 13 to provide a preselected clearance therebetween. Horizontal leg 123 is formed with a lateral restraining projection 124 that is likewise slightly above the top of frame 13 as best shown in FIG. 1.

Two longitudinally spaced stop members 125 are pivotally connected to the top of side 13 by pivot pins 126. Each stop member 125 has a shoulder thereon, such as illustrated at 127, about which one end of spring 128 is connected. The other end of stretched spring 128 is connected to a fixed fulcrum point, such as end post 86 and bracket 129, therby normally to bias stop members 125 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2.

The end of stop member 125 remote from pivot pin 126 is provided with a wedge cam extension 132 operative upon clockwise contact with projection 124 of flange 121 to cam the same upwardly to permit extension 132 to pass thereunder. After such passage, leaf spring 122 urges projection 124 downwardly in front of the trailing vertical surface of extension 132 thereby to inhibit pivotal movement of stop member 125 until the actuation mechanism 118 has again been forwardly trigered. It will be appreciated that the clockwise pivotal movement of the stop members to the inoperative position is sequentially initiated by the leading surface of carriage 17 during forward traversal of the same.

With reference to FIG. 7, mechanism 105 is triggered by outwardly extending pin 116 mounted to traversing carriage 17 as noted above. As the traversing carriage is advanced, pin 116 comes into contact with lever 106 and drives the same forwardly thus to move actuating lever 112 on the opposite side of pivot pin 112 rearwardly. This movement of link 114 causes the bottom of flange 121 to come into sliding contact with beveled side 118 of groove 117 thereby to cam the same upwardly to release stop members 125. Springs 128 urge such stop members upon release in a counterclockwise direction until positioned under the vertical paper slots 94. At this stage of carriage advancement and before further advancement, paper stacks 133 are inserted into slots 95 with walls 90 and 94 operative laterally to assemble the paper and stops 125 vertically positioning the same with respect to the carriage.

It will be appreciated that on the return cycle of the carriage 17 pin 116 will contact lever 106 and urge the same rearwardly. Such movement of lever 106 substantially simultaneously initiates forward movement of link 112 and grooves 117 therein. However, flange 121 is permitted to slide along the bottom of such groove toward vertical wall 120 without any upward camming of the same. Therefore, stop members 125 remain in the inoperative position during the complete return cycle.

When the carriage 17 is subsequently advanced to the right as viewed in FIG. 1, the U-shape binders contained in compartments or holders 23 on such carriage are drawn past spreading element 136, which includes two vertically oriented V-shape spreader bars 137 as shown in FIG. 2. Such bars are axially and vertically aligned with the center of compartments 23 on carriage 17 whereby they are received in the channel of such binders and act to spread the legs of the same to substantially the inside width of the binder webs 73A.

As the carriage 17 is further advanced, the leading edge of expanded binders 72 passes about the lower edges of paper stacks 133 within hopper 85. The inherent physical capacity of plastic to return to its initial shape results in the expanded legs of the binder contracting to grip the edge and sides contained therewithin. This contraction takes place almost immediately upon axial positioning of the binder about the paper edge or, in other words, just after leaving spreading element 136. It will thus be appreciated that the binder is partially spread in axial sequence to expand the portion of the binder coincident with or closely adjacent to the back edge of the paper stack. This limited longitudinal expansion and contraction does of course create sliding friction between binder and paper with increased resistance to axial movement along the binding edge. Accordingly, the second paper biasing means discussed above has been provided to facilitate such movement by gripping or holding the paper stack against axial displacement during binder application.

Specifically, the paper stack initially is compressed and held by the advancement of carriage 17 resulting in intermediate camming sections 43 of arms 40 slidingly contacting lower sections of side walls 90, thereby to drive the same inwardly against the sides of the paper stacks. Upon further advancement of carriage 17, shoulders 21A in channel 19 contact the bottom ends of side plates 90 to maintain the same in the gripping position against the sides of the paper stacks.

It will be appreciated that arms 40 have an opposite effect on the return stroke of the carriage. Specifically, camming sections 43 of arms 40 slidingly contact flanges 101 quickly to separate side panels 90, which are held in the open position by longitudinal extensions 42 of arms 40. Therefore, the bound paper stacks are quickly released from storage slots 95 through the relatively wide bottom throats after the carriage has cleared the paper hopper 85.

An end stop 138 is mounted to the right hand end of frame 10 to limit the forward longitudinal movement of the carriage. Said stop is positioned to stop the carriage when the rear end of the binder has exactly cleared the spreader bar 137 and is precisely in alignment with the rear end of the paper stack. It will thus be appreciated that the carriage in such position is directly below the paper hopper and that the binder has been drawn along the entire longitudinal extent of the stack and is substantially coincident therewith.

OPERATION OF FIRST EMBODIMENT The operation of the first embodiment of the present invention should be clear from the above discussion but for clarity of understanding will be hereinafter briefly described.

The binding cycle is begun with the carriage in the binder receiving position illustrated in FIG. 1. With the carriage in such position, the binder stops 75 and paper stops 125 are in the withdrawn or inoperative position illustrated by full lines in FIG. 2.

Initially, the binders are stacked in vertical feed slots with one such binder being received in compartment 23. The binders 72 are stacked so that webs 73A are on the bottom and legs 73 extend generally upwardly. It will be appreciated that both compartments 23 or for that matter any number of adjacent compartments, may simultaneously be used, although in the following description only a single binding operation is described.

With the binders properly positioned, the carriage 17 is forwardly advanced by handle 54 until pin 116 trips lever 106. The rotation of such lever causes actuating link 112 to move rearwardly camming flanges 121 upwardly simultaneously to release stop members 125. Under spring bias, such stop members pivot into paper restraining positions under slots 95 of hopper 85, as illustrated in phantom lines in FIG. 2.

In such carriage position, both binder stops are still in the FIG. 2 inoperative position but the paper stops 125 are under hopper as described and the paper 133 may be inserted in stacks therein. It will of course be obvious that the paper will be positioned in the slot that is axially aligned with the binder compartment 23 in use. Although manual feed of paper to slots 94 has been described, mechanical feed of paper stacks to hopper 85 is also contemplated by the present invention.

Further advancement of carriage 17 brings camming portions 42 of arms 40 into sliding contact with the lower portion of side plate 90, thereby inwardly to drive the same against the lateral side of the paper stack. This results in such stack being firmly gripped to preclude movement of the same during application of the binder.

' 9 The forward movement of thecarriage then results in rebent loops 32 coming into contact with the paper stack to compress the same thereby to facilitateinitial entry of paper into the binder. Subsequently, the leadingedge of the binder will pass onto and about spreading element 137 and into embracive contact with the lower left edge of the paper as viewed in FIG. 1. Concurrently, the rear end of the carriage will clear left stop 75 permitting the same to pivot into operative position cooperatively to retain binders in the vertical feed slot 70.

With further advancement of the carriage being effected, the momentarily expanded binder will begin axial movement along the edge of the paper stack contracting thereabout to grip the same. Such further advancement also results in stop members 125 sequentially being driven in a clockwise direction by the leading edge thereof. As described above, the wedge extensions 132urge projections 124 on flange 121 upwardly to allowpassage thereunder, leaf springs 122 biasing such projections downwardly after passage to capture stop members 125 in their inoperative positions. It will also be appreciated that the. binding movement of the carriage results in clearance of the right hand binder stop member 75. Suchmember 75 pivots in a counterclockwise direction under spring bias to position retaining finger 77 below feed slots 70, thereby to retain the binders in stacked relationship within hopper 60.

When the carriage reaches the end of its forward stroke as dictated by stop 138, the binder is positioned embracingly about the edge of the paper stack substantially coincidental with the longitudinal extent thereof. The carriage may then be reversed and pushed back toward its FIG. 1 receiving position.

During such return stroke, the binder remains embracingly clamped about the edge of the paper stack since the forward or right hand end of carriage 17 does not have a pushing shoulder. As soon as carriage 17 clears hopper 85, camming portions 42 of arms 40 slide along the inside surfaces of flanges 101 quickly to drive side panels, 90 outwardly. Such camming movement to force the side panels open and. increase the bottom throat width of feed slot 95 permits the bound paper stackto drop from such hopper. The bound paper stack is illustrated in FIG. 11 with binder 72 gripping stack .133 substantially along the entire length of the edge selected for binding.

The rear or left edge of carriage 17 during return pushes the binder stop members 75 in a clockwise direction to the non-retaining position illustrated in FIG. 2. When both such stops have been pivoted to the inoperative position, the next binder in the stack is permitted to drop vertically into compartment 23 on such carriage. The loose-leaf binding machine is then ready for a subsequent and identical reciprocal cycle.

10 of plastic binders and various sizes and thicknesses of paper stacks. Also, the machine may be expanded to bind any number of paper stacks simultaneously and may be mechanized by various means.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE SECOND EMBODIMENT The second embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 12-14 includes a table indicated generally at 2 having a planar top surface 202. A stationary back bracket 204 is secured along one edge of surface 202 and has an upstanding guide leg 206 and a horizontal attachment leg 208. A laterally adjustable bracket 210 is perpendicularly oriented to bracket 204 and includes a horizontal leg 212 and a vertical guide leg 214. Leg 212 has an extension 216 to the top of which is welded one end of adjustment plate 218, such plate at its other end resting upon the top of and being equal in width to horizontal attachment leg 208 of bracket 204.

Intermediate its ends, adjustment plate 218 is provided with an elongated slot 220. A tightening knob 222 has a downwardly extending boss 224 and a threaded shaft 226, the latter passing through slot 220 into tapped aperture 228. The movable bracket 210 may thus be positioned as desired within the limits of slot 218 and secured in place by drawing boss 224 downwardly onto adjustment plate 218, as shown in FIG. 14.

At the other end of bracket 204, a paper holding handle 230 and spreading mechanism 250 are provided.

It will be appreciated that certain modifications to Handle 230 is an extruded or molded one-piece plastic member having an elongated arm 232, a hinge portion 234 and an attachment tab 236. Arm 232 has two pairs of opposed rubber pads 238 and 240 secured to its intermediate and distal sections, the lower pads 238 being operative to grip or hold the paper stack in position when the handle 230 is lowered into contact with such stack. A transverse slot 242is provided adjacent the proximal end of arm 232 to receive upstanding guide flange 206 during the pivotal cycle thereof, whereby the handle may be swung downwardly without impedence to grip a paper stack of any thickness.

The spreading mechanism 250 comprises a flexible one-piece plastic member-that is generally V-shape in configuration. The mechanism 250 is partially nested within hinge 234 and attachment tab 236 of handle 230 and further includes a lateral projection 252 extending beyond side edge 253 of surface 202. As best shown in FIG. 14, surface 202 has a rectangular cut therein defining recess 254 in which the nested attachment tab 236 and spreading mechanism 250 are received, the recess 254 being equal in depth to the combined thicknesses of. the tab and mechanism whereby the inside surface 256 of the spreader is flush with surface 202. Suitable fastening means indicated generally at 258 are employed to interconnect the handle and spreader while fastening means 260 likewise form such an interconnection while securing the same to table 200.

A stop plate 262 is connected to side edge 264 of table 200 and includes an ear 266 and a circular abutment section 268. Ear 266 has an inwardly extending pivot pin 270 received in an aperture in surface 264, and circular abutment section 268 has a fastening screw 272 received in an aperture in edge 264. Circular abutment portion 268 extends beyond edge 253 an amount approximately equal to the width of projection 252 and may be either flush with edge 264 or spaced therefrom by washers or the like on screw 272.

In positioning paper stack 276 on table 200, one edge 277 of such stack, preferably an end edge on conventionally sized paper, is brought into abutment with upstanding guide leg or flange 204. Movable bracket 210 is then adjusted so that one side edge is flush with guide leg 214 while the other side edge indicated by phantom line 278 is in alignment with the end of projection 2S2. Movable bracket 210 may then be secured by knob 222 whereby edge 278 is precisely aligned with feed path 280 of binder 282. Stop plate 262 is adjusted by screw 272 and the spacing washers thereon to be flush with end edge 284 of stack 276.

Handle 230 may then be drawn downwardly until pads 238 on arm 232 grip the top surface 286 of stack 276, such pads being operative firmly to hold the stack against displacement during binder application. In the gripping position of the handle, the spreading mechanism 250 is inwardly contracted with the inside inner surfaces 256, 288 thereof contacting the top and bottom surfaces of the stack adjacent edge 277, thereby to compress such edge for avoidance of paper fraying and the like.

The inward contraction of the spreader caused by the interconnection with handle 230 is also operative of course to vary the spacing of the opposed spreader legs in accordance with the thickness of paper stack 276.

The binder 282 is then drawn axially across the spreader projection 252 as indicated by arrow 280, the V-shape of such projection being operative to spread the legs of the binder apart sufficiently to receive the thickness of the paper stack. The binder upon leaving projection 252 resiliently contracts against the stack adjacent binding edge 278, the web of the binder sliding along such edge due to the axial alignment between binder 282, projection 252, and edge 278. Pressure is maintained on handle 230 by the operator during the binding operation so that pads 238 preclude axial displacement of the stack. The binder 282 is drawn along edge 278 until the leading edge thereof contacts abutment section 268 of stop plate 262, such contact precluding further axial movement of the binder and being operative to position the same substantially coincidentally with the longitudinal extent of the binding edge 278.

The embodiment just described is primarily designed for 8 inch ll inch paper with the adjustments of bracket 210 and stop plate 262 being operative to allow paper of slightly different dimensions to be bound. However, legal size paper having a 13 inch X l 1 inch area cannot be handled on the model just described.

Accordingly, another model of essentially the same type is provided having an elongated table 300. The side bracket 304 and movable bracket 310 are identical in configuration and operation to brackets 204 and 210 except that bracket 304 is extended to compensate for the longer length of table 300. Bracket 310 is adjusted to align one end edge of the legal size paper with the end of projection 252, whereby the binder 282 may be drawn across such edge to complete the binding operation.

It will additionally be appreciated that paper having dimensions less than 8 i inches X 11 inches may be handled on the smaller model by inwardly adjusting bracket 210 and shifting stop plate 262 to side 253 as shown in phantom lines at 312. Thus a binding machine has been disclosed that readily can accept paper stacks of varying sizes and thicknesses for application of a binder along one edge thereof. The type or form of spreader element employed in the two embodiments may be varied of course as long as the indicated function is performed. For example, spreader element 250 disclosed and illustrated in conjunction with the second embodiment may be used in place of element 137 in the first embodiment.

Other modes of applying the principles of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the details described, provided the features stated in any of the following claims or the equivalent of such be employed.

I claim:

1. A machine for positioning an elongated, plastic spine type binder having two legs and an interconnecting web about one edge of a loose-leaf paper stack comprising a holder adopted releasably to retain at least one assembled stack of loose-leaf paper, means to compress at least a portion of said one edge, and a spreader adapted momentarily to expand the legs of the binder during positioning of the same along such edge when compressed, whereby the paper is received between the legs of the binder before the same contract to grip the paper of said stack.

2. The machine set forth in claim 1 further comprising a second holder adapted releasably to retain at least one binder and means selectively to move one of said holders with respect to the other holder to position the web against the binding edge and the legs about the sides of the stack immediately adjacent said edge.

3. The machine set forth in claim 2, wherein the second holder comprises an upturned channel compartment in which the binder is received with the web seated against the bottom of said channel and the legs extended upwardly.

4. The machine set forth in claim 3, wherein the means for moving one holder with respect to the other includes a selectively reciprocal carriage in the top of which is located said upturned channel compartment.

5. The machine set forth in claim 4, wherein the carriage has two longitudinally spaced pairs of wheels received in substantially horizontal tracks in a frame member, said tracks and wheels being adapted dimensionally to stabilize said carriage during its reciprocal movement.

6. The machine set forth in claim 5 wherein the holder is supported above said frame and includes at least one vertically oriented paper feed slot open at top and selectively cyclicly open at bottom.

7. The machine set forth in claim 6, wherein the carriage in the forward position of its reciprocal cycle is situated with the upturned channel therein in direct vertical alignment with and slightly below the bottom of said paper feed slot.

8. The machine of claim 7, wherein the spreader is positoned between said carriage and said paper feed slot, whereby the carriage during its forward stroke sequentially moves said binder about and past said spreader and then along the binding edge of said paper stack, the vertical and horizontal alignment of said carriage with said edge permitting said web intimately to move along said edge and the legs to move along the sides of said stack adjacent said edge.

9. The machine of claim 8, wherein the binder legs are expanded only during initial axial positioning about said edge, the legs resiliently contracting against the sides of the paper stack during the remaining axial movement with said means to compress including biasing means on said carriage operative inwardly to compress the edge of the stack in front of said binder to facilitate initial entry of the paper stack between the expanded legs of the binder.

10. The machine set forth in claim 6, wherein the bottom of said receptacle is selectively opened or closed by bottom stop means positioned through an actuating mechanism controlled by carriage position.

11. The machine set forth in claim 9, wherein the bottom stop means includes pivotal stop plates biased without impedance toward a position across the bottom of said receptacle.

12.The machine set forth in claim 11, wherein the *bottom stop means further includes stop plate restraining means mounted on said frame, said restraining means blocking pivotal movement of said stop plates selectively to maintain the same in an inoperative position withdrawnfrom the bottom of said receptacle.

l3. The machine set forth in claim 12, wherein the stop plates are in an inoperative position before carriage movement, the initial movement of said carriage being adapted to motivate said actuating means which .in turn release said stop plates for'pivotal movement under said receptacle.

'14. The machine set forth in claim 13, wherein the carriage motivates said actuating means by an outwardly extending pin thereon which engages a lever of said actuating means pivotally connected to said frame.

15. The machine set forth in claim 14, wherein the actuating means includes said lever and an elongated actuating link indirectly driven in a reciprocal rectilinear path by said lever, said link being restrained for substantially horizontal movement along said frame.

' ceptacle.

18. The machine set forth in claim 17, wherein the paper stack is inserted in said receptacle when said stop plates arepositioned therebelow, said stop plates acting vertically to position said stack relative to said carried binder.

19. The machine set forth in claim 18, wherein said carriage has a pushing shoulder at the rear end of said channels abutting the rear end of said binders to move the latter forwardly with said carriage.

20. The machine set forth in claim 19, wherein the carriage on advancement past said lever draws said binder aboutand past the spreader which is fixedly connected to the rear of said holder, said spreader consisting of a contoured wedge member axially aligned with said channel and vertically positioned to be received therewithin during passage, the wedge member forcing said legs apart and'aligning the inner surface of said web with theedge of said paper stack immediately before passage of the binder onto said paper stack.

I 21. The machine set forth in claim 20, wherein the means to compress includes biasing means on said carriage'to compress the binding edge of the paper stack immediately in front of the leading edge of the binder, thereby to facilitate the initial entry of the paper stack between the expanded legs of the binder.

22. The machine set forth in claim 21, wherein the leading edge of the carriage on further advancement past said spreader sequentially pivotally cams said stop plates to an inoperative position, said stop plates having a wedge like extension thereon to urge the flange of said restraining means upwardly to allow said plates to pass thereunder, the leaf springs connected to said flange forcing the restraining means downwardly after passage to capture the stop plates therewithin and selectively to retain the same in said inoperative position.

23. The machine set forth in claim 22, wherein the paper receptacle is formed with at least one pivoted side plate and the means to compress includes camming arms on said carriage, said pivoted side plate, during advancement of the carriage, being urged inwardly against the paper stack to grip the same by said camming arms and adapted during return of the carriage to pivot outwardly to release the bound paper stack to drop free of said holder.

24. The machine set forth in claim 23, wherein the camming arms of said carriage during the return stroke thereof are operative to force the side plates outwardly to assist in releasing the bound stack.

25. The machine set forth in claim 23, wherein a hopper is supported on said frame immediately above said channel of the carriage when the latter is in its initial position before advancement, said hopper having a plurality of stacked binders therein subsequently to be carried by said carriage.

'26. The machine set forth in claim 25, wherein feed means at the bottom of said hopper are operative individually to feed the binders to the channel compartment at the completion of each carriage cycle.

27. The machine set forth in claim 26, wherein said feed means include stop arms pivotally connected to said frame and spring biased upon carriage advancement to a position under said hopper for retaining said binders therewithin, said carriage upon return pivotally camming said arms to an inoperative position, thereby to allow the next binder to drop into said compartment.

28. The machine set forth in claim 1 wherein said holder includes a table having a planar top surface upon which the paper stack is placed and guide means above said surface properly to position said stack.

29. The machine set forth in claim 28, wherein said guide means include two flange surfaces against which two edges of the paper stack are placed, one of said guide means being movable for lateral adjustment of the stack.

30. The machine set forth in claim 29, wherein said means to compress includes a flexible handle hinged to said table having gripping means affixed to the underside surface thereof, said handle during binder application being positioned over the paper stack with the gripping means against the top surface to preclude stack movement.

31. The machine set forth in claim 30, wherein the spreader is a flexible wedge shape member that is attached to the handle and adapted to vary in wedge size according to the handle position, whereby the wedge size varies with the paper stack thickness to control the degree of binder leg expansion.

32. The machine set forth in claim 31, wherein the handle and spreader are attached to one corner of said table and the paper stack is adjusted by the movable guide means axially to align the opposed binding edge with the spreader.

33. The machine set forth in claim 32, wherein the spreader is adapted to compress the leading portion of the binding edge to facilitate entry thereof into the expanded legs of the binder.

34. The machine set forth in claim 33, wherein the binder is axially drawn across said spreader to expand the legs for initial entry of the leading portion of said binding edge of the paper stack, the legs of said binder contracting about the binding edge during the remaining axial movement.

35. The machine set forth in claim 30, wherein said handle is an integral one-piece plastic member and includes an elongated portion to the intermediate and distal ends of which the gripping means are affixed, an arcuate hinge portion at the proximal end of said elongated portion and an attachment tab at the other end of said hinge portion through which fastening means are passed to secure the handle to said table. 

1. A machine for positioning an elongated, plastic spine type binder having two legs and an interconnecting web about one edge of a loose-leaf paper stack comprising a holder adopted releasably to retain at least one assembled stack of loose-leaf paper, means to compress at least a portion of said one edge, and a spreader adapted momentarily to expand the legs of the binder during positioning of the same along such edge when compressed, whereby the paper is received between the legs of the binder before the same contract to grip the paper of said stack.
 2. The machine set forth in claim 1 further comprising a second holder adapted releasably to retain at least one binder and means selectively to move one of said holders with reSpect to the other holder to position the web against the binding edge and the legs about the sides of the stack immediately adjacent said edge.
 3. The machine set forth in claim 2, wherein the second holder comprises an upturned channel compartment in which the binder is received with the web seated against the bottom of said channel and the legs extended upwardly.
 4. The machine set forth in claim 3, wherein the means for moving one holder with respect to the other includes a selectively reciprocal carriage in the top of which is located said upturned channel compartment.
 5. The machine set forth in claim 4, wherein the carriage has two longitudinally spaced pairs of wheels received in substantially horizontal tracks in a frame member, said tracks and wheels being adapted dimensionally to stabilize said carriage during its reciprocal movement.
 6. The machine set forth in claim 5 wherein the holder is supported above said frame and includes at least one vertically oriented paper feed slot open at top and selectively cyclicly open at bottom.
 7. The machine set forth in claim 6, wherein the carriage in the forward position of its reciprocal cycle is situated with the upturned channel therein in direct vertical alignment with and slightly below the bottom of said paper feed slot.
 8. The machine of claim 7, wherein the spreader is positoned between said carriage and said paper feed slot, whereby the carriage during its forward stroke sequentially moves said binder about and past said spreader and then along the binding edge of said paper stack, the vertical and horizontal alignment of said carriage with said edge permitting said web intimately to move along said edge and the legs to move along the sides of said stack adjacent said edge.
 9. The machine of claim 8, wherein the binder legs are expanded only during initial axial positioning about said edge, the legs resiliently contracting against the sides of the paper stack during the remaining axial movement with said means to compress including biasing means on said carriage operative inwardly to compress the edge of the stack in front of said binder to facilitate initial entry of the paper stack between the expanded legs of the binder.
 10. The machine set forth in claim 6, wherein the bottom of said receptacle is selectively opened or closed by bottom stop means positioned through an actuating mechanism controlled by carriage position.
 11. The machine set forth in claim 9, wherein the bottom stop means includes pivotal stop plates biased without impedance toward a position across the bottom of said receptacle.
 12. The machine set forth in claim 11, wherein the bottom stop means further includes stop plate restraining means mounted on said frame, said restraining means blocking pivotal movement of said stop plates selectively to maintain the same in an inoperative position withdrawn from the bottom of said receptacle.
 13. The machine set forth in claim 12, wherein the stop plates are in an inoperative position before carriage movement, the initial movement of said carriage being adapted to motivate said actuating means which in turn release said stop plates for pivotal movement under said receptacle.
 14. The machine set forth in claim 13, wherein the carriage motivates said actuating means by an outwardly extending pin thereon which engages a lever of said actuating means pivotally connected to said frame.
 15. The machine set forth in claim 14, wherein the actuating means includes said lever and an elongated actuating link indirectly driven in a reciprocal rectilinear path by said lever, said link being restrained for substantially horizontal movement along said frame.
 16. The machine set forth in claim 15, wherein said elongated link has longitudinally spaced grooves in the top side thereof, each of said grooves having a beveled side to form a camming surface therealong.
 17. The machine set forth in claim 16, wherein the stop plate restraining means have downwardly extending flanges seated in said grooves by leaf springs connected to said frame, said flanges being urged upwardly by said camming surface duriing backward movement of said link, thereby to release said stop plates for pivotal movement to the operative position below said receptacle.
 18. The machine set forth in claim 17, wherein the paper stack is inserted in said receptacle when said stop plates are positioned therebelow, said stop plates acting vertically to position said stack relative to said carried binder.
 19. The machine set forth in claim 18, wherein said carriage has a pushing shoulder at the rear end of said channels abutting the rear end of said binders to move the latter forwardly with said carriage.
 20. The machine set forth in claim 19, wherein the carriage on advancement past said lever draws said binder about and past the spreader which is fixedly connected to the rear of said holder, said spreader consisting of a contoured wedge member axially aligned with said channel and vertically positioned to be received therewithin during passage, the wedge member forcing said legs apart and aligning the inner surface of said web with the edge of said paper stack immediately before passage of the binder onto said paper stack.
 21. The machine set forth in claim 20, wherein the means to compress includes biasing means on said carriage to compress the binding edge of the paper stack immediately in front of the leading edge of the binder, thereby to facilitate the initial entry of the paper stack between the expanded legs of the binder.
 22. The machine set forth in claim 21, wherein the leading edge of the carriage on further advancement past said spreader sequentially pivotally cams said stop plates to an inoperative position, said stop plates having a wedge like extension thereon to urge the flange of said restraining means upwardly to allow said plates to pass thereunder, the leaf springs connected to said flange forcing the restraining means downwardly after passage to capture the stop plates therewithin and selectively to retain the same in said inoperative position.
 23. The machine set forth in claim 22, wherein the paper receptacle is formed with at least one pivoted side plate and the means to compress includes camming arms on said carriage, said pivoted side plate, during advancement of the carriage, being urged inwardly against the paper stack to grip the same by said camming arms and adapted during return of the carriage to pivot outwardly to release the bound paper stack to drop free of said holder.
 24. The machine set forth in claim 23, wherein the camming arms of said carriage during the return stroke thereof are operative to force the side plates outwardly to assist in releasing the bound stack.
 25. The machine set forth in claim 23, wherein a hopper is supported on said frame immediately above said channel of the carriage when the latter is in its initial position before advancement, said hopper having a plurality of stacked binders therein subsequently to be carried by said carriage.
 26. The machine set forth in claim 25, wherein feed means at the bottom of said hopper are operative individually to feed the binders to the channel compartment at the completion of each carriage cycle.
 27. The machine set forth in claim 26, wherein said feed means include stop arms pivotally connected to said frame and spring biased upon carriage advancement to a position under said hopper for retaining said binders therewithin, said carriage upon return pivotally camming said arms to an inoperative position, thereby to allow the next binder to drop into said compartment.
 28. The machine set forth in claim 1 wherein said holder includes a table having a planar top surface upon which the paper stack is placed and guide means above said surface properly to position said stack.
 29. The machine set forth in claim 28, wherein said guide means include two flange surfaces against which two edges of the paper stack are placed, one of said guide means being movable for lAteral adjustment of the stack.
 30. The machine set forth in claim 29, wherein said means to compress includes a flexible handle hinged to said table having gripping means affixed to the underside surface thereof, said handle during binder application being positioned over the paper stack with the gripping means against the top surface to preclude stack movement.
 31. The machine set forth in claim 30, wherein the spreader is a flexible wedge shape member that is attached to the handle and adapted to vary in wedge size according to the handle position, whereby the wedge size varies with the paper stack thickness to control the degree of binder leg expansion.
 32. The machine set forth in claim 31, wherein the handle and spreader are attached to one corner of said table and the paper stack is adjusted by the movable guide means axially to align the opposed binding edge with the spreader.
 33. The machine set forth in claim 32, wherein the spreader is adapted to compress the leading portion of the binding edge to facilitate entry thereof into the expanded legs of the binder.
 34. The machine set forth in claim 33, wherein the binder is axially drawn across said spreader to expand the legs for initial entry of the leading portion of said binding edge of the paper stack, the legs of said binder contracting about the binding edge during the remaining axial movement.
 35. The machine set forth in claim 30, wherein said handle is an integral one-piece plastic member and includes an elongated portion to the intermediate and distal ends of which the gripping means are affixed, an arcuate hinge portion at the proximal end of said elongated portion and an attachment tab at the other end of said hinge portion through which fastening means are passed to secure the handle to said table. 